An opinion piece criticizing West Virginia prosecuting attorney Tom Truman, who advised women to report miscarriages to law enforcement to potentially avoid criminal charges under broad state laws related to the disposal of human remains. The author highlights the absurdity and danger of this advice, especially in a state where abortion is almost entirely banned, and discusses the broader legal limbo and fear faced by women experiencing pregnancy loss in the U.S. post-Roe v Wade.
Women of West Virginia: inform on yourself to the miscarriage police!
AbortionWest VirginiaUnited StatesGenderWomen
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️An opinion piece criticizing West Virginia prosecuting attorney Tom Truman, who advised women to report miscarriages to law enforcement to potentially avoid criminal charges under broad state laws related to the disposal of human remains. The author highlights the absurdity and danger of this advice, especially in a state where abortion is almost entirely banned, and discusses the broader legal limbo and fear faced by women experiencing pregnancy loss in the U.S. post-Roe v Wade.
Trending- 1 2022: Overturning of Roe v Wade, which plunged many women experiencing pregnancy loss in the US into legal limbo
- 2 2023: Nigeria accounted for well over a quarter (29%) of all maternal deaths worldwide (mentioned in an unrelated anecdote)
- Increased fear, confusion, and anxiety for women experiencing pregnancy loss in West Virginia
- Potential for criminalization of miscarriages through broad legal interpretations
- A chilling effect on women seeking medical care or discussing pregnancy loss openly
- Broader legal and social challenges to reproductive rights in the U.S. post-Roe v Wade
What: Controversy over a West Virginia prosecuting attorney advising women to report miscarriages to law enforcement to avoid potential criminal charges.
When: Published June 7, 2025. The overturning of Roe v Wade occurred in 2022. Nigeria's maternal death statistics from 2023 are mentioned in an unrelated anecdote.
Where: West Virginia, United States. Unrelated anecdotes mention Gaza, Tennessee, and Birmingham (UK).
Why: Prosecuting attorney Tom Truman warned that other prosecutors in West Virginia might use broad state laws governing the handling of fetal remains to file criminal charges against women who have experienced pregnancy loss. This situation is exacerbated by West Virginia's near-total ban on abortion.
How: Truman's public statement to WVNS 59News sparked the controversy. The article discusses the legal interpretations of existing laws and includes advice from legal experts (like Kim Mutcherson) against contacting law enforcement in such scenarios.